We welcome prospective interns, students and postdocs to the vibrant and diverse community we've built here in Okinawa with the goal of pursuing cutting-edge science and technology. Please send an email to recruiting-FSU@oist.jp with your CV and a brief Cover Letter explaining why you may be a good fit to join our Unit.
Applicants are asked to please ensure the subject line in your email says: <Position of interest> <Current Year> : <LAST, First Name> ; For example: Internship 2026: CRUISE, Tom.; Or Postdoc 2026: CHOPRA, Priyanka
To offer some additional perspective, the process is competitive with several tens of applicants per year in each of the above categories from all over the world. Please get in touch at least 6-8 months in advance of your expected start date.
For Prospective Interns and PhD Students
Successful candidates typically have 8–12 months or more of hands-on experience aligning free-space optics or working in ultrafast optics or in LEEM/PEEM/Momentum Microscopy. Knowledge and background in Condensed Matter Physics, nonlinear optics, 2D materials or energy materials is a plus. Unfortunately, we do not perform extensive modelling or synthesis - researchers with that background or interest will find numerous other outstanding groups at OIST, or elsewhere, that are better matched to their skillset.
If you believe that your skill set doesn't match the above, but nonetheless you are a good match for our unit, please explain carefully and specifically in your cover letter how you might be able to contribute to our mutual success. If you have discussed your plans with a senior mentor or faculty who is closely aware of your experience and background, in your cover letter, please let us know their name, contact information and their specific reasoning for why a position at FSU will be mutually beneficial.
For Interns, please note that our internship program favors students who are interested in OIST for their PhD. Prior commitment to a PhD is obviously not a pre-requisite, nor is it practical, and in turn a PhD position is not a guaranteed outcome of securing an internship.
For students applying for the PhD program, please be aware that OIST operates a centralized PhD admission system, and individual professors do not have direct authority over admissions decisions. Applicants must apply through the official channels; those who advance to the interview round are welcome to discuss specific opportunities in FSU in more detail at the interview stage.
For Prospective Postdocs
Applicants should have a PhD in one of the following or related areas: experimental Condensed Matter Physics, 2D materials, Energy Materials, Quantum Materials or Nonlinear Optics with hands-on experience in experimental ultrafast optics and/or electron microscopy/spectroscopy, e.g. LEEM, PEEM, Momentum Microscopy or another related technique. Interested candidates are encouraged to share details of their relevant experience in the cover letter — including specific setups worked with and the nature of their hands-on involvement — to help assess fit with the group. As with other positions in the group, we are unfortunately not a modelling or synthesis group - researchers with that background will find numerous other groups at OIST, or elsewhere, better matched to their skillset.
If you do not fall in the above category but nonetheless believe that your unique skillset will enable you to pursue specific, important and impactful scientific projects that require the particular experimental capabilities available in our unit, please explain this aspect carefully and specifically in a separate one-page attachment to your cover letter.